The bill proposes amendments to the South Carolina Constitution regarding the qualifications for candidates running for the Senate, House of Representatives, and certain statewide offices. Specifically, it mandates that candidates for the Senate or House must be legal residents of South Carolina for at least ten years and residents of their respective districts for at least two years at the time of filing for office, applicable to those not previously elected to the General Assembly before 2027. Additionally, it introduces a new requirement for candidates for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Treasurer, Superintendent of Education, Comptroller General, and Commissioner of Agriculture to have been legal residents of South Carolina for at least ten years prior to the election, unless they had been elected to the same office before 2027.

The proposed amendments will be presented to voters in the next general election, allowing them to decide whether to adopt these new residency requirements. The bill includes specific language for the ballot that will ask voters if they support the changes to the qualifications for these offices, ensuring that the electorate has a direct say in the matter.